Levo League » Kathryn Worshamhttp://content.levoleague.com
Levo League, elevate your careerWed, 07 Dec 2016 17:36:18 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.1How to Avoid the Fall Cold at the Officehttp://content.levoleague.com/lifestyle/avoiding-the-fall-cold-at-the-office/
http://content.levoleague.com/lifestyle/avoiding-the-fall-cold-at-the-office/#commentsTue, 07 Oct 2014 20:30:20 +0000http://content.levoleague.com/?p=73850It’s that time of year: Everyone at the office is sneezing, allergies are peaking, and germs are abounding. It’s also, conveniently, when you need to be at the top of your A-game because summer is over and work is back in full swing.

We chatted with Well + Good’s Senior Staff Writer, Lisa Elaine Held, to get much-needed advice on avoiding the fall cold.

“If you want to avoid catching a cold, the key is strengthening your immune system, and more and more research is showing that the best way to do that is by boosting your gut health. (Yes, balancing the bacteria that live in your intestines sounds gross, but it’s important!) Eating lots of whole, fibrous plant foods will help, and you should learn to love fermented foods, too.”

Her top food picks for boosting the immune system? “I love kombucha, sauerkraut, and miso. Ginger is also an age-old cold prevention tool I love.”

Lisa frequents Juice Press for their spicy Ginger Fireball shots. “Warning: they’re really intense. You could opt for a green juice with ginger at pretty much any juice bar, which will also flood your body with immune-boosting vitamins from the greens.”

The overall bonus: “Ginger is also good for digestion, which links back to the first tip!”

Looks like ginger is our new best friend. We personally like to buy raw ginger from the grocery store to drop thin slices in our green tea.

Photo: Thinkstock

]]>http://content.levoleague.com/lifestyle/avoiding-the-fall-cold-at-the-office/feed/0Beyond the Pencil (Skirt): Soraya & Maxine, Founders of Zadyhttp://content.levoleague.com/fashion/zady-beyond-the-pencil-skirt-levo-league/
http://content.levoleague.com/fashion/zady-beyond-the-pencil-skirt-levo-league/#commentsMon, 23 Sep 2013 12:02:43 +0000http://content.levoleague.com/?p=73866We are living in a time when trends move in and out faster than you can say “statement necklace.” Fast fashion is unfortunately often synonymous with cheap goods, underpaid and unsafe labor, and materials that do not last more than a couple of wears.

Soraya Darabi and Maxine Bedat, high school friends who stayed in touch with each other, recognized this $60 billion ethical consumer market, and created Zady to actively address the issue. Zady is an online shopping destination for a conscious consumer who values quality and wants to know the ends and outs of where a product came from. It’s been nicknamed the “Whole Foods of fashion,” and for good reason. We chatted with Soraya and Maxine about launching their company and got a close up look at some Zady-certified pieces.

Brief description of Zady:

Zady is a destination for the conscious consumer. We provide an alternative to fast-fashion by searching the globe for beautiful products that you will want to keep and wear for a very long time. It’s global style with a purpose.

Zady has been referred to as the “Whole Foods” for clothes. How did the idea for this originally spark?

We met in high school in Minneapolis and bonded over both having international parents (Maxine’s parents are from South Africa; Soraya’s father is from Iran). Years after college, we were both living in New York and reconnected. We realized that we had similar interests including a shared interest in understanding how supply chains work and how beautiful things are made. We passed articles back and forth on the negative impact of fast fashion and the idea of Zady was born. Unfortunately recent trends support impulse-buying low-priced items made from cheap materials and labor. Zady is addressing the $60 billion ethical consumer market.

Were you already clothing-conscious before launching Zady?

Maxine: I grew up in the fast-fashion generation. I remember when H&M first-opened in the U.S. It was exciting to buy things that seemed so cheap. But after years of buying this way, I found myself going back to the few basics that were higher quality. As I did more research into Zady and discovered what a human cost fast fashion has, it became that much easier to just say no. Now I have a highly edited closet where I know the story and can feel great about every single piece I own.

Soraya: I was aware, but still occasionally buying from the fast-fashion chains when I needed something last minute. Those items fell apart within three washes and so I don’t miss those products one bit.

Favorite piece on Zady right now:

Maxine: I love my imogene + willie jeans. I also keep my Le Feu de L’eau candle burning almost all the time.

Soraya: The Winter Session Carry-All. It’s a unisex tote bag and I love that it makes me feel like a chic-carpenter

A day running Zady looks like:

Maxine: From 5:00 to 7:00 a.m., I am responding to emails and doing strategic thinking. Soraya and I are early risers, and find that’s the best time to think more globally about Zady and our strategy moving forward. The day is a balance between connecting with the team to advance projects, appointments with brands, and engaging on social media.

Soraya: Meetings! And team editorial, design and inventory review sessions. Investor calls. Interviews with publications. Coffee. Emails. Decaf tea after 2 p.m. At night I decompress by playing in the park with my puppy Pepito.

Maxine, how do you find the brands featured on Zady?

I never know where I’m going to discover a Zady brand, that’s half the fun. We of course go to all the industry shows, which is a great opportunity to speak to brands, and figure out what emphasis they play on quality and craftsmanship. I can walk down aisle after aisle, asking each brand where they do their manufacturing. It’s just scary how the vast majority do not have a clear answer to such a simple question. Some brands are found at the shows, I also discover them while traveling, others we find on blogs from around the world.

Soraya, now that Zady has launched what is the next bit item on Zady’s agenda?

Building out our community online and offline, planning for a pop up event, and strategizing all things Zady 2.0. We are @zady on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, and we are /zadypins on Pinterest.

Where do you spend your weekends and free time?

Maxine: Living in New York is quite hectic, so I love to take weekend trips upstate. Being in nature definitely brings a sense of calm and helps me stay focused.

Soraya: At the Anjelika movie theater, reading in Washington Square park with the dog.

Where do you go for a ten minute break?

Maxine: I buy candy. It’s a habit that I’m told you grow out of, I just never did!

Soraya: I like to walk around the block briefly, and use that time to call my Mother to say hello.

City that describes your personality:

Maxine: New York, hands down.

Soraya: Paris. Maybe all girls say that.

Best piece of advice ever received:

Maxine: What life partner you choose is the most important decision you will ever make. I’m very fortunate to have found a husband who has been incredibly supportive of my goals in life, and I of his.

Soraya: Life is a marathon, not a race.

My mentor:

Maxine: My mother. She was new to America with my father, had three children, and somehow built a successful company. I turn to her often to get her take on relationships, which is at the foundation of a successful team and company.

Soraya: My mother now and grandmother before she passed away.

In 10 years:

Maxine: I hope fast fashion is spoken about in the past tense.

Soraya:I would like to be very very happy. Simply that.

Career wisdom for young professional women:

Maxine: Don’t expect your career to be given to you, go out and make it happen. Ask for more responsibility and put the work in to prove to yourself and others that you can handle it. Never underestimate hard work.

Soraya: Think about how you can help others get to where they are going, it pays back in fold.

]]>http://content.levoleague.com/fashion/zady-beyond-the-pencil-skirt-levo-league/feed/0Introducing “Weekend Essentials” from Levo Leaguehttp://content.levoleague.com/lifestyle/weekend-essentials/
http://content.levoleague.com/lifestyle/weekend-essentials/#commentsFri, 20 Sep 2013 13:03:43 +0000http://content.levoleague.com/?p=73482Sometimes, the best weekends are when you have no plans instead of two days packed with brunches and birthday parties. Here is our list of Weekend Essentials: what we will be doing without really doing anything. In other words, indulging in the little things we often forget to set aside time for. We hope this list plants a few ideas of how to spend your time in a way that is relaxing, and yet productive to your personal well-being.

– Take time to unwind and focus on your health at a yoga class. Don’t want to spend the $20? Search for a local donation-based studio like Yoga to the People.

– Pickup fall produce from a local farmers market and eat outside at a nearby park. Feeling close to the earth can help put job or relationship stresses into perspective.

– Fall means new beginnings. Write a journal entry documenting your personal and professional goals for the next six months.

– Send a snail mail postcard to a family member or friend to let them know you’re thinking about them.

– Looking for something light and fluffy to read? Make yourself comfortable and read through this 40 Days of Dating project done by two New York-based designers. Be prepared, you may want to block off a couple hours on your calendar, because once you start, you can’t stop.

]]>http://content.levoleague.com/lifestyle/weekend-essentials/feed/0How To Master the “Layered Look” At Workhttp://content.levoleague.com/fashion/layer-clothes-professional-style/
http://content.levoleague.com/fashion/layer-clothes-professional-style/#commentsWed, 18 Sep 2013 13:17:39 +0000http://content.levoleague.com/?p=73262Ah, the age old question: How do you get the put-together “layered look?” You know, the woman at work who looks like she meticulously plotted out a multi-dimensional outfit that somehow does not look bulky? The secret is that it’s not as hard as it looks. Scroll through our slideshow to see how you can impress your co-workers with an elegantly layered look no matter what industry you work in.

If you would like additional style advice be sure to ask Samira DeAndrade, a senior account executive at Diesel, for tips.

Featured Photo: Kim Jones

Graphics: Allison Everett

]]>http://content.levoleague.com/fashion/layer-clothes-professional-style/feed/0A Look Inside Five Careers in Public Relationshttp://content.levoleague.com/career-advice/5-careers-in-public-relations/
http://content.levoleague.com/career-advice/5-careers-in-public-relations/#commentsWed, 18 Sep 2013 11:01:21 +0000http://content.levoleague.com/?p=73266Public relations is a career that spans many industries and can be applied (and be very beneficial) to almost any business. Depending on your clients industry and your geographical location, careers in public relations can vary greatly.

We talked to five public relations professionals based in different cities around the U.S. They are all in various stages of their careers, and they work with all types of clients. Click through our slideshow to get a glimpse at five specific public relations paths, and then read below to get the full scoop on day-to-day responsibilities for each.

Office casual with a twist. You’ll usually find me in skinny jeans and flats (our concrete floors echo so I try not to wear heels often). I like basic tops and blazers, or will dress up a simple Everlane T-shirt with a pretty scarf or statement piece of jewelry.

Briefly describe your job responsibilities:

I manage business and consumer media opportunities with our exec team in our San Francisco headquarters, help develop and execute our communications strategy around new company initiatives, manage speaking and events, and I also support our company’s local community activities in the city of San Francisco.

Office culture at One Kings Lane?

The culture at One Kings Lane is collaborative, nimble, and fun. Our three offices in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles all work together to bring our shopping experience to life every day. It’s certainly fast-paced, but so inspiring to work with such talented people who are all passionate about design and delighting our customers.

Lynne Dowell; Houston, Texas; Memorial Hermann Health System

Tell us about your PR role with the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas:

Telling other people’s stories is something I’ve been passionate about ever since I graduated from college and took a job as a reporter. There is nothing quite like empathizing with an individual who has undergone an amazing journey or challenging adventure. My role in PR at Memorial Hermann has provided me with the opportunity to share medical miracles and shine a spotlight on the doctors that make those miracles possible.

What is your favorite part of a career in PR?

The people. I get to meet some of the most amazing individuals and no two days are alike. Sometimes the hours can be long, but when I get to meet a patient who on paper shouldn’t be alive, but he’s learning to walk on his own again, I remember I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Arielle Patrick; New York, NY; Corporate Practice at Weber Shandwick; Director of Publicity (pro-bono) at The American Reader

How did you decide to work in PR pro-bono in addition to full-time job?

As a publicist, it is important to exercise your brain in other areas outside of your career specialty. In my case, I focus on the financial services industry, but am also a nerd who graduated from Princeton with a degree in Classics. How better to channel my inner academic than to be on-staff at a literary magazine?! It is also important to build confidence in your skill set by getting as much practice as possible. What I learn in the field, I apply to my full-time job, and vice-versa.

What is your top tip for young women starting out in public relations?

In order to succeed in PR, you have to realize that being “personable” is the least of what it takes. You have to think on both a micro and macro level when creating solutions for your clients.

Piqued PR officially launched in March of 2013 while we previously worked with clients on a freelance basis for the year prior. We focus on lifestyle brands, everything from fashion and beauty to interiors. We also occasionally handle PR for politicians.

Did you work in PR before then?

I started my career in PR working as a press secretary and social media manager for a politician. From there I moved onto working with national brands for a creative agency in their PR department all while freelancing to build my personal client base.

Why PR?

I initially pursued PR in college as a way to fulfill my desire to work with fashion and lifestyle related brands while using my talent for writing and communicating.

Think Dr. Phil meets Sherlock Holmes inside a data center being live tweeted. It’s my job to make sure our technology clients are happy and our teams are motivated. I am responsible for driving strategy and continued growth for our U.S. technology client portfolio, as well as collaborating closely on client service with H+K’s other practices, disciplines and offices. I’ve led client engagements with companies like Salesforce, VMware, Yahoo!, LinkedIn, Qualcomm, and Visa.

Describe your office culture in a few words:

The best idea wins. Call me biased, but technology communications is without question the most exciting place to work and build your career. At a macro level, the boundaries between people and technology have blurred. Mobile devices, wearable computing, Google glasses, biotech advances, harnessing the power of social networks — it’s all changing so quickly, and it’s fundamentally redefining what we expect of ourselves as human beings. We’re not only telling the story of technology, we’re telling the story of what it means to be human, and what human limitations we’re going to challenge next.

]]>http://content.levoleague.com/career-advice/5-careers-in-public-relations/feed/0Mark Your Calendar: Office Hours with Nanette Lepore, Plus a Giveawayhttp://content.levoleague.com/office-hours-recaps/nanette-lepore-levo-league-office-hours/
http://content.levoleague.com/office-hours-recaps/nanette-lepore-levo-league-office-hours/#commentsWed, 18 Sep 2013 10:55:31 +0000http://content.levoleague.com/?p=73946We could not be more excited for our upcoming Office Hours this Thursday, September 19th, with Nanette Lepore, a renown fashion designer who just debuted her Spring 2014 collection at New York Fashion Week. Nanette Lepore has dressed many a celebrity (think Michelle Obama, Taylor Swift, and Blake Lively) and is known for her bright colors and vibrant prints.

After earning a degree in design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Nanette launched her eponymous line equipped only with her talent and a $5,000 loan. Over the years, she has successfully developed her women’s clothing brand into a global enterprise.

Nanette is a mentor to aspiring fashion designers and businesswomen, including her daughter Violet with whom she launched a clothing line called L’Amour, which is geared towards teenagers and sold at J.C.Penney.

In an effort to steer away from “fast fashion,” Nanette embraces a “Made in the USA” business practice and also is a huge advocate of the Save The Garment District initiative whose mission is to “promote, preserve, and save New York City as the world’s fashion capital.”

Be sure to add Nanette Lepore’s Office Hours to your calendar and tune in live on Thursday, September 19 to hear her advice on starting a business and sticking to your guns even when others are not behind you.

That’s not all! You can enter for a chance to win a wristlet from the Nanette Lepore line. All you have to do is simply log in to your Levo profile, go to Nanette’s Office Hours page, and click the star icon in the top right corner to favorite her Office Hours. It might be the easiest giveaway entry ever!

]]>http://content.levoleague.com/office-hours-recaps/nanette-lepore-levo-league-office-hours/feed/0Work-Friendly Nail Polish Trends from Five Beauty Expertshttp://content.levoleague.com/lifestyle/tips-from-beauty-experts-on-nail-polish-trends-at-work/
http://content.levoleague.com/lifestyle/tips-from-beauty-experts-on-nail-polish-trends-at-work/#commentsTue, 17 Sep 2013 13:05:33 +0000http://content.levoleague.com/?p=73250In her book Teenage Beauty, world-famous makeup artist Bobbi Brown advises that you should never be afraid to experiment with nail polish colors. Of course, the rules change when you move from high school, to college, to the working world. But that doesn’t keep us from wanting to jazz up our manicure every once in a while. If you’re like us, your job probably entails a lot of typing, and we personally think that polished nails on a keyboard make the day go by a little bit faster. We chatted with beauty experts to get tips on how to pull off fall nail polish trends in a work environment. Flip through the slideshow above to get the how-to.

For more questions regarding how to wear beauty trends at work, be sure to ask Levo League mentor Caroline Everett, a Senior Brand Manager at Birchbox.

This week we spoke with Farnoosh Torabi, a personal finance expert, author, and host of Financially Fit on Yahoo! Farnoosh frequently makes TV appearances to lend her “perfectly practical” advice. Her book You’re So Money: Live Rich Even When You’re Not gives tips on how to “live beyond your means, but spend within them.”

Farnoosh’s advice is toask for more. A topic we continuously need to be encouraged and reminded about.

“Failing to negotiate your salary at the beginning of your career is, over a lifetime, like kissing an extra $1 million goodbye,” she said. “Carnegie Mellon’s Linda Babcock found that men are paid $4,000 more for their first job than women, mainly due to negotiating. Compounding that difference with interest and rising salaries over time and boom: you’re at one million.”

This statistic is no laughing matter, but it takes guts to act on it.

Have a question about building the confidence to ask for more, negotiation tactics, and timing on salary negotiation? Ask Farnoosh on her Levo League mentor profile.

]]>http://content.levoleague.com/lifestyle/money-mondays-with-farnoosh-torabi/feed/0How to Wear Looks From New York Fashion Week to Workhttp://content.levoleague.com/fashion/how-to-wear-looks-from-fashion-week-to-work/
http://content.levoleague.com/fashion/how-to-wear-looks-from-fashion-week-to-work/#commentsFri, 13 Sep 2013 12:54:34 +0000http://content.levoleague.com/?p=73230Another New York Fashion Week has come and gone, and we are left reflecting on what we will be wearing to work… in six months. Flip through the slideshow to see which Spring 2014 trends we can’t wait to flaunt in the office.

Want to know what it’s like to go to the runway shows? Ask our mentors Annie Greenberg, New York Editor, Refinery29, and Rachelle Hruska, Founder and CEO, Guest of a Guest!

Featured Photo: Tommy Ton / Courtesy of Style.com

]]>http://content.levoleague.com/fashion/how-to-wear-looks-from-fashion-week-to-work/feed/0Beyond the Pencil (Skirt): Meet Samira, Senior Account Executive, Dieselhttp://content.levoleague.com/fashion/beyond-the-pencil-skirt-meet-samira-senior-account-executive-diesel/
http://content.levoleague.com/fashion/beyond-the-pencil-skirt-meet-samira-senior-account-executive-diesel/#commentsFri, 13 Sep 2013 12:51:32 +0000http://content.levoleague.com/?p=73178With the closing of fashion week yesterday, we thought it would be appropriate to highlight a woman who is making her mark in the industry. Samira DeAndrade is one of those unique individuals who exudes a genuine passion for her job, but remains humble about her impressive accomplishments.

Levo met Samira in the lobby of Diesel’s New York headquarters, where she works as a senior account executive. In addition to sifting through each new collection to curate assortments for her retail accounts, Samira makes four annual trips to Italy where she watches the shows and presentations. Be prepared to walk away from this interview feeling inspired, motivated, and a little more “in the know.”

Current location:

Brooklyn, New York

Where you are from originally?

Boston, Massachusetts

Education (College / Major):

Simmons College / Business Management

Job:

Senior Account Executive at Diesel USA

Brief description of Diesel:

Diesel is an Italian based lifestyle brand that includes apparel, denim, shoes, bags, sunglasses, kids, 55dsl, accessories, kitchen, and home products.

Where were you before Diesel?

Before Diesel, I was at BCBGMAXAZRIA. Prior to that I was at Donna Karan Collections.

How did you land this position?

While I was in college, I was fortunate to meet a young woman through a mutual friend who worked for Céline as an Account Manager in wholesale. She then became my mentor and introduced me to the fashion industry. She gave me my first WWD (Women’s Wear Daily) to read and access to her web account. I moved to New York for a summer to intern at Escada in their wholesale department. I never worked so hard in my life, but at the end of the internship I knew that I had found my passion. I left that internship gaining another mentor. Both ladies helped me with interview etiquette, my resume, salary negotiation, and most importantly I was able to use them as references. I landed my first corporate job at Donna Karan as a sales assistant straight out of college.

Your personal style in a few words:

Sophisticated with a touch of boldness.

Office dress code:

Not sure if we have one. Normally you will find me wearing Diesel Jeans (skinny or boyfriend), a tank top paired with a blazer, and an amazing four inch heel!

Style icon:

Victoria Beckham and Jackie Kennedy.

Go-to bag for work:

My Louis Vuittonnever fails me in the morning when I am stuffing it with my iPad, shoes, planner, lunch, makeup, and wallet.

A day at work looks like:

My day at work is never the same. The only thing consistent is the checking of emails, meetings, and brainstorming how I can build and expand the business. Somewhere during my crazy day my stomach growls and I grab lunch.

Office culture in a few words:

Fun and eclectic.

How often are you in Italy for work and what is your schedule like there?

I am in Italy four times a year. My schedule consists of strategy meetings, runway shows, product presentations, and always ends with a team dinner.

How many people are on your team?

We are seven strong. We are all different, but work very well together.

Favorite part of your job:

I love every part of my job, but my favorite is when I am gearing up for market. It’s a time when I spend day and night in the showroom editing, pricing, reviewing the collection piece-by-piece, and creating assortments for each retail account I manage. After all that is done, my fabulous visual team merchandises the showroom and I start selling our “sempliemente favoloso” (simply fabulous) collection.

If you need a 10-minute break, what do you do?

I have realized in this industry that there are several reasons you need a 10-minute break: smoking (not a smoker), coffee break (we have a coffee and espresso machine at work, so no need for a 10-minute break), calling a friend to vent because work is too stressful (I haven’t reached that point), or a lovely walk to Doughnut Plant for a peanut butter and banana crème donut. That is how I use my 10 minute break—indulging in some calories.

Hobbies?

I always take a deep breath when I am asked this question because I really don’t have a hobby, but (with my finger pointed up) I let people know I have a second full-time job, or at least it feels like it. I oversee a youth ministry at my church that focuses on biblical truths and empowering at-risk youths in Brooklyn and The Bronx from ages 13-18. I started this ministry four years ago and since then, it has grown into helping youths inside juvenile prisons and adolescent homeless shelters. Being able to do this is such a blessing, and it has helped me view life differently.

If you weren’t working in fashion, what would you be doing?

If I wasn’t working in the fashion industry, I would probably have started my own nonprofit geared towards working with at-risk youths.

Favorite blog/website:

Best piece of advice ever received:

Go after what makes you happy inside and out. What you believe is what you become.

My mentor:

I have several mentors. They each mentor me in different aspect of my life, those aspects being career, spiritual, and personal. I am so grateful for each one of them for continuously having a word of wisdom and encouragement.

In 10 years:

I plan to hold several positions. I want to be a wife, a mother, and the president of a top fashion house. I also plan to expand my ministry across the tri-state area where more youths can have a chance in life like I did. Above all of this, I want to continue to make a difference in any way I can.

Career wisdom for young professional women:

Only you have the definition of what success is. Define it, accomplish it, and you will be satisfied.